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SMITHFIELD, R.I. (AP) — Ronnie Drinnon hit a go-ahead basket and a pair of free throws in the final 48 seconds, scoring a career high 20 points as sixth-seeded St. Francis (Pa.) battled past third-seeded Bryant 55-54 in the Northeast Conference tournament Wednesday night.
The Red Flash (10-20) advance to a Saturday semifinal at top-seeded Robert Morris.
St. Francis hasn't been in the playoffs since the 2010-11 season and scrapped past Bryant (18-14) in a closely fought contest that saw five ties and five lead changes — three in the final 3:37.
Bryant was up 50-48 at the final media timeout, but Dominique Major came out of the huddle for St. Francis with a 3-pointer. Drinnon hit a layup with 43 seconds left for a 53-52 lead, was fouled rebounding his own missed free throw and sank both for a 55-52 margin. St. Francis outrebounded Bryant 34-25.
Dyami Starks led Bryant with 19 points.
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